Buju Banton’s Spat With Minister Daryl Vaz Gets Political

A major brouhaha that developed between Grammy-winning deejay Buju Banton and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz over relief supplies has begun to take on disturbing political overtones.

Since the story broke with a video rant by Buju Banton that a stove and Starlink supplies were stolen, Minister Vaz has challenged the singer’s account of how relief supplies were handled at the Norman Manley International Airport. On Friday, the Til Shiloh singer hit back, accusing the Minister of being “unaware” of the real situation.

In a post shared to his Instagram, Buju Banton said that the goods sent for Hurricane Melissa victims were not taken straight from the plane to trucks, as Vaz had claimed, but were moved to “an area we had no sight of” and kept there for hours.

“Seals were broken and things were taken,” he said, stressing that he had no reason to “create mischief nor make up stories.”

The entertainer accused the Minister of trying to “make this political” and said that the relief flight also carried packages for People’s National Party’s Member of Parliament, donated by Florida-based commissioners and donors.

“This is about Jamaica, not about PNP or JLP as we are all suffering,” Buju wrote, adding that the system was ‘broken”.

“The common thread continues to be a lack of accountability and trying to shame and blame the person who speaks out,” he added.

Buju said he was disappointed by Vaz’s response but “not surprised.”

Other Jamaicans have weighed in with similar accounts of missing items, but the controversy has created an online firestorm that some believe may damage relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s rampage across western Jamaica.

One account on X posited: “Customs/Airport worker dem a thief, politician a liad and Buju is an unreliable narrator sometimes. Hard to know what to believe.”

On Friday, Minister Vaz posted what he dubbed his “closing statement on this very unfortunate event:

“1- The GOJ continues to try to streamline logistics to expedite clearance of relief goods which sometimes incurs extended delays due to number of relief flights on the ground at one time.

2- We have handled at the airports in excess of 350 relief flights at our airports with not one single complaint of missing goods. CCTV exists at the tarmac and storage areas.

3- The investigation into accusations made by Mark Myrie aka BUJU BANTON has been completed including a comprehensive review of footage from arrival of flights to delivery of shipments and there was no sign of tampering with the cargo.

4- For full transparency and accountability I will share footage to public and give access of footage to the police.”

Audio messages received from the customs officer on both the GOJ side and the importers also confirm that all goods were received.

To persons who have been victims of similar circumstances, the Govt will continue to work on improving the customer experience at our ports.
It may have never been said before, but this should not be normalized.

Entertainer Mr. Vegas, a clear supporter of the governing JLP party, applauded the statement saying “this is how a leader stands up for his staff when they are falsely accused”.

“Now you will have their full support and workmanship,” Mr. Vegas concluded.

However, the damage may already be done. Another account tweeted on X, demanding an apology.

“Your move @bujubanton ! Your allegations were very loud and very public. You have called the recovery effort into disrepute and put a negative light on the nation at a time of national crisis! An apology would be helpful,” the user said.

Another account, Linda Lawrence, echoed these sentiments.

“It is important for Buju Banton to give an apology. I am on a visit to the US and the first thing that EVERY member of the diaspora tells me is that customs is stealing the relief supplies that are shipped to Jamaica. The video has gone viral and unfortunately most persons believe,” she said.

“The video has gone viral and most persons will not see your response that all the goods shipped was delivered. You MUST insist on him doing a video retracting his message. Too much damage has been done already and his actions has hurt (not helped) the people of Jamaica.”

Yet others remain skeptical. Another account, Justthetruth raised the spectre of similar situations occurring to ordinary Jamaicans who lack Buju Banton’s international profile.

“…but what about the “ small man “ that have had these issues for years , and their complaints have fallen on deaf ears ??”